Closing Report ITB Berlin: Substantial Increases Despite Strikes at Airports and in Public Transport

"The ITB Berlin continues to grow. According to its exhibitors
sales with a value of just under six million euros were finalised at
and around the ITB Berlin", according to Dr. Christian Goke, COO of
Messe Berlin. The leading trade show for the global travel industry
not only included more exhibitors than ever before this year but also
attracted more visitors over the past five days than it did last year,
despite strikes and snow. Just under 40 per cent of the trade visitors
came to the German capital from abroad in search of information about
the latest trends in the industry. "The accompanying convention was an
outstanding event with a record number of attendees and it continues
to attract growing numbers of international decision makers, including
many top executives. Once again the ITB Berlin has provided impressive
proof of its position as a world leader in its field", Goke continued.

There is a mood of optimism in the international tourism sector
and on the business travel market. Exhibitors revealed a high level of
satisfaction with their participation in this event. The world´s
largest travel trade show attracted more exhibitors than ever before,
with 11,147 companies from 186 countries presenting the latest
products and services from the travel industry (previous year: 10,923
companies from 184 countries). Crowds of people came to the ITB Berlin
each day and, shortly before it closed, attendance figures revealed a
positive picture, with a total of 177,891 visitors to the exhibition
halls. Between Wednesday and Friday a total of 110,322 trade visitors
were registered (2007: 108.735). During the weekend 67,569 members of
the public also came in search of information. The surveys conducted
at the ITB Berlin revealed that more than 70 per cent of the general
public who attended intend to use a travel agency when making their
travel arrangements.

Once again all available space was taken at the ITB Berlin, which
was taking place for the 42nd time. Because all 160,000 square meters
of display space in the 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds was
occupied, increasing numbers of exhibitors are resorting to the
construction of multi-storey stands. One particularly spectacular
example this year was provided by Emirates Airlines with a world
first, a three-storey, rotating globe. The exhibitors from all over
the world as well as the programme of the ITB Berlin Convention Market
Trends & Innovations provided a clear indication that the travel
industry is seriously addressing the consequences of climate change
and its impact on tourism. With such outstanding speakers as Bertrand
Piccard and Peter Sloterdijk, together with a wide and varied
programme dealing with aspects such as aviation, hotels, travel
technology and destinations, the Convention attracted a record
attendance of 11,000. The Business Travel Days, which were opened this
year by the CNN correspondent Richard Quest, also contributed to the
twenty five per cent increase in attendance.

BTW and DRV: ITB Berlin was a complete success

Klaus Laepple, President of the German Travel Association (DRV)
and of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW):
"For five days the world came together in the Berlin exhibition halls,
which provided a unique platform for discussions, encounters and the
cultivation of contacts around the globe. Once again the ITB Berlin
2008 reaffirmed its position as the international centre for worldwide
tourism. Trade visitors from all over the world utilise this unique
platform for communication in order to establish the directions to be
taken for the coming season. As the world´s top event for the travel
industry the ITB Berlin was a massive success. The figures provide
impressive confirmation of this fact. On the basis of such positive
indications we anticipate that 2008 will be a successful year for
travel", was Laepple´s expectation.

World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)

Francesco Frangialli, Secretary General of the World Tourism
Organization (UNWTO): "We are proud to have again been part of the ITB
Berlin, which is a loyal and important partner of the UNWTO. The
leading trade show for the world´s tourism industry again confirmed
its excellent reputation as a unique meeting place for the industry,
experts, government representatives and travellers themselves. The ITB
Berlin has convincingly shown how our sector meets and implements
sustainability criteria. This is one of the fundamental objectives of
the UNWTO. We look forward to returning next year and continuing to
develop our long-standing links with this event."

Highlight: partner country - the Dominican Republic

As the partner country the Dominican Republic was able to garner
the maximum media attention. The Dominican Republic is now firmly
established in world tourism as a year-round destination for
vacationers and for incentive tour operators. Evidence of this is
provided by the increase in arrivals from all over the world, which
exceeded four million in 2007. Growth prospects are very promising
because of the country´s stable political situation and a steadily
improving business and investment climate. One of the main features of
the presence of the Dominican Republic at the ITB Berlin was the high
volume of meetings with buyers.

Magaly Toribio, Vice-Minister of Tourism for the Dominican
Republic: "The ITB Berlin exceeded all our expectations. Our
exhibitors were able to conduct substantially more business than they
did in 2007. An enormous volume of enquiries was received from buyers,
and the public came in vast numbers too. We are more than happy ("mas
que feliz"). Not only did the ITB Berlin create greater interest in
our country on the German market, it also made us the focus of
increased international attention. This trade show was an effective
way of promoting our country. Important business discussions were held
with trade visitors, for example from France, the United Kingdom,
Spain and Italy. We also believe that markets in Russia and other
Eastern European countries offer interesting prospects. Many
journalists from television, radio, print and electronic media in the
Dominican Republic reported in depth on the display and the trade show
in general. This was the fifth time that I had attended the ITB Berlin
and without doubt it was my best ever."

The ITB Berlin is acquiring a growing appeal as a marketing
instrument for destinations. The demand by applicants wishing to
become partner countries at future fairs culminated in the signing of
an agreement for 2010 with the Turkish Tourism Minister. Applications
are already being submitted for 2011 and 2012.

ITB Berlin as a meeting place for the media and politics

The ITB Berlin is an international media event. In addition to
international news agencies some 8,000 journalists from 90 countries
attended. Politicians and diplomats were present in even greater
numbers at the world´s leading travel trade show, 171 from 100
countries (2007: 137 from 85 countries). They included 71 ambassadors,
82 ministers and 18 state secretaries.

The next ITB Berlin will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 11
to 15 March 2009. From the Wednesday until the Friday admission will
again be restricted to trade visitors only.